Committed to Their Community for Five Decades
By Angie Landsverk
When Nick and Vicki Kulyk opened The Holy Moses on Memorial Day weekend in 1977, their gift shop was in a log cabin built by Nick and others.
“We sold our handcrafted goods, photography — taking items on consignment,” she said. The name of their business is related to prospector Nicholas Creede who shouted, “Holy Moses!” after discovering a high-grade silver vein in this part of Colorado’s upper Rio Grande Valley in 1889.
The town quickly grew to 10,000 as others arrived to also seek silver. The community that was named after Creede burned to the ground on June 5, 1892.
Residents quickly began rebuilding Creede with bricks after that fire. However, many left the area when silver prices dropped due to the Sherman Silver Purchase Act.
In 1985, the last silver mine closed when prices dropped to below $5 per ounce. “We made a commitment to stay when many were leaving,” Vicki said.
Two years later, Nick and Vicki had the opportunity to purchase the old drugstore building in the heart of Creede’s business district. “The 1893 building needed some serious work, but the move was the best decision we ever made,” Vicki said.
They began offering an eclectic mix of country, hand-thrown pottery, tabletop, lodge, floral, hand and body care, candles, paper goods, and seasonal and Christmas décor. “Snoozie slippers are a big seller in the summer, because mornings are chilly at our elevation of 8,852 feet,” she said. Sherpa throws also sell well and come in handy when sitting on a porch in the evening.
“Love what you do and engage your staff to do the same.”
Vicki Kulyk
The Holy Moses has Christmas items in its space throughout the year. “Our customers are always looking for décor they don’t find at home. We have our 10-foot Christmas tree up all year, along with smaller trees in various places, such as wildlife, birds, and farm/Western,” Vicki said. “We have a tree with handmade Creede ornaments that are cut from wood, sanded by Nick, and painted in our work area by our employees. We sell ornaments every day during the summer season. This year, we added an area with Christmas signs, which don’t seem to sell in our local community. I’ve had Christmas items for at least 40 years. The Nativities are bestsellers. They are in special show cases. “
While some businesses close in September, The Holy Moses is open year-round. The store’s hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and then daily in the summer. “We stay open so local residents have a place to shop. Our customers tell us that they don’t need to call ahead, as we are always open. Consistence is the key to success,” she said.
A devastating fire was part of Creede’s early history. And the small community was also affected by fires during the last 20 years.
“On Dec. 1, 2006, two neighboring buildings caught fire. The firemen were able to save our building. However, our merchandise was a total loss. We were able to clean and restore our vintage displays and showcases. A small, four-room house off of Main Street became our temporary location from May until mid-October while the storefront building was refurbished. My best advice would be to keep insurance up to date and always carry loss of income insurance. This is what kept us in business,” she said.
Then in 2013, three forest fires were burning toward Creede at one time. “Our county is 96% Forest Service owned. There is one road in and one out. The guest ranches were evacuated and many summer homeowners left due to smoke,” Vicki said. “This was late June. Over 300 firefighters were dispatched to our area. We were blessed in early July as the monsoons came in and essentially put the fires to rest.”
She said, “There are always ups and downs in business as there are in life. The key to our success is to treat all customers with respect, engage them in conversation by always greeting them, and provide the best customer service possible. We wrap, box, bag, and if necessary, carry purchases to their cars. Our summer visitors are traveling, and we want them to arrive at home with purchases they can enjoy.”
Vicki said they had a website several years ago but found it unnecessary. “The shop is listed on Google, and it seems to work. Finding what works best for your business and is cost effective keeps your business open,” she said. “We do not sell online simply because we do not have (the) staff or facility to accommodate it. Our merchandise is constantly changing to keep the peak interest of our customers. We do ship out of state.”
They have not attended any trade shows recently due to the economy being down. “We order from catalogs, and reps visit us. Keeping funds in product instead of travel is important,” she said.
Vicki says it is important to compliment staff members and thank them for a job that is well done. “Offer your staff a yearly raise and cash bonus for Christmas. They can make or break your business,” she said. “Training staff is costly and draining. Love what you do and engage your staff to do the same.”
Her advice for others is to create interesting displays and keep them — and the shop area — clean and tidy. “Keep your community informed using your local Facebook page,” Vicki said.
She also recommends becoming involved in one’s local Chamber of Commerce and sharing ideas there. Vicki has served on Creede’s Chamber board on seven different occasions and was its president four times.
“I brought up the idea of a Chocolate Festival bringing folks to Creede after Thanksgiving, and 37 years later, it is still a success,” she said. A variety of events take place in Creede throughout late spring and summer, beginning on Memorial Day weekend and ending in September. Their themes include food, theater, mining, music, woodcarving, and rocks and minerals. They help bring visitors to the community.
Jim and Vicki have put on the Cruisin’ Canyon Car Show for 18 years. “Folks come in from all over the state, Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Oklahoma, and Arizona. The fall colors are beautiful, and many come year after year. Our nonprofit car show donates funds raised to local nonprofits and school programs,” she said.
This Memorial Day weekend begins their 50th year in business at The Holy Moses. “Stay true to yourself and your ideals — no need to chase all the new trends. As we celebrate our 50 years in business, we have seen fads, businesses, and dreams come and go,” Vicki said. “We don’t have a special celebration planned but just look forward to seeing our customers of five generations come in to see us. We are a constant, and they love that.”
FACTS AT A GLANCE
Business Name: The Holy Moses
Location: 121 N. Main St., Creede, CO 81130
Website: creede.com/biz/the-holy-moses
Email: 4hmoses1@gmail.com
Phone: 719-658-2848
Employees: Five part time
Size: 1,380 sq. ft. (851 sq. ft. in shopping space)
Product Categories: Country, hand-thrown pottery, tabletop, lodge, floral, personal care, candles, paper goods, journals, stationery, greeting cards, children’s gifts, seasonal and Christmas décor, jewelry, handbags, and linens
POS System: Cash register
